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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Statutory toilet access card

Summary

Deputy Mark Wall sought Government support for his Bill to create a no-wait statutory card for people with Crohn’s disease or colitis so they can access toilet facilities. The Tánaiste said he would discuss it with the Minister and said the Government would engage constructively.

Almost 50,000 people in this country suffer from Crohn's disease or colitis; I am one of them. Will the Government support my Bill for a no-wait statutory card for those people? I am working with a Kildare woman, Maria Crowe, in relation to this. The Tánaiste and other Members will be familiar with the need for a statutory card. Many organisations have a non-statutory card but people are refused the use of toilet facilities again and again. This is so common, it is unbelievable. It is time we legislated for this and brought in this statutory card. I hope the Minister for Health will support this card as well.

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Simon Harris The Tánaiste Fine Gael

As a Crohn's sufferer, I have a conflict of interest here as well. I will talk with the Minister in relation to this matter. More broadly, and I say this to be helpful, while there is sometimes a need to change laws, and we will always consider constructive Bills that Deputies like Deputy Wall bring forward, sometimes there is just a need for a bit of common sense in making sure there is clarity in relation to the use of toilet facilities and the likes. As always, the Minister will constructively engage. Sláintecare is bringing us on a journey that is trying to overhaul a lot of the structures in place around long-term illness and so on. That work is under way but I look forward to considering the Bill.

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